Turn-table.



No. 824,632. PATENTED JUNE 26, 1906. c. K. ERNST.

TURN TABLE.' BPLIOATION FILED APB. so. 190e.

2 SHEETS-SEEBTI.

maken s. annum co4. Muvo-urvqoamnlzks. wAsumanm, u, c

PATENTED JUNE 26.1906.

C. K. ERNST. TURN TABLE. APPLIoATIoN FILED APR. ao, 190s.

ZSHBBTS-SHEET 2.

. I..v for du mw w.

UNITED STATES PATENT ornicn.

TURN-TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 26, 1906.

Application filed April 30, 1906. Serial No. 314,377.

T0 cir/Z whom, if may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES K. ERNST, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in TurnTables, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to turn-tables such as are used in garages and stables for automobiles and other vehicles which are not excessively heavy; but the improvements are not necessarily restricted to turn-tables for such use.

The objects of the invention are to produce a turn-table of relatively light but strong and rigid construction which will turn with great freedom without tilting or wabbling, which can be built and installed at a reasonable cost, and which will be stable without requiring a large and expensive pit and foundation.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure l is a section of a turntable embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view thereof, part of the turn-table 4 being removed to expose the supporting-frame thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the hub and bearing of the turn-table. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional elevation of the turn-table frame, showing the manner of attaching the floorsupporting beams. Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the hub and bearing, showing a slightly different construction.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

The turn-table consists of a frame A, arranged in a suitable pit to turn horizontally on a bearing in the pit, and a circular Hoor B, which is supported by the frame substantially flush with the floor or ground of the building in which the turn-table is located. The floor B may be of wood or other material and of any suitable construction.

The frame A is preferably built of metal and composed, as shown in the drawings, of a hub or center casting C, horizontal floor-supporting beams D, which are secured at their inner ends to and project radially from the hub, and a circular rim E, which encircles and is secured to the outer ends of the radial beams. The beams D and rim E are preferaly made of channel-beams arranged on e ge.

The hub or center casting has a horizontal circular bearing plate or web c, on wichh the inner ends of the floor-beams rest for a considerable portion of their length, an upright center post c', which extends above the bearing-plate substantially to the tops of the floor-beams and depends for a considerable distance below the bearing-plate, and radial upright webs or braces c2, which join the depending portion of the center post to the bearing-plate. These webs or braces c2 are wide at their upper ends or extend outwardly for a considerable distance from the center post, and taper downwardly, preferably extending to the lower end of the center post. They greatly strengthen the center post and bearing-plate and make the hub very rigid and strong without greatly increasing its weight. c3 represents radial ribs which extend upwardly from the bearing-plate beside the radial floor-beams. Each beam is bolted or otherwise securely fastened to one of these ribs, and the ribs shown are provided with stiffeners or braces c4 at one side, joining them to the bearing-plate.

The upper portion of the center post c is preferably provided with lugs which overhang the inner ends of the lower flanges of the radial beams to relieve the beam-securing bolts of the strain which would otherwise be thrown thereon by weight on the outer edge of the turn-table.

F represents a metal bearing-box or hollow bearing-casting for the turn-table. The bearing-box is embedded in a concrete or cement foundation f or is otherwise firmly fixed in the pit for the turn-table. Suitable lugs or projections j" are shown on the bearing-box for firmly anchoring it in the concrete foundation. The bearing-box is preferably cylindrical and of sufficient size to receive the depending post c and braces o2 of the turn-table hub and is provided at the edge of its upper open end with a circular race g for bearing-balls G, on which the turntable bears and 1s supported. The bearingplate c of the hub has a depending bearingflange g restin on the balls. The bearingiiange preferably depends within a lretaining lip or flange h on the edge of the bearing-box and has a conical or beveled face which rests on the balls. The turn-table is supported by and turns on the bearing, which being considerably removed from the axis of the turntable forms a stable support therefor.

A center bearing is also provided between the lower end ofthe center post and bearing- IOO box- This center bearing preferably consists of a hardened-steel stud l, removably secured to the bottom of the bearing-box and entering a hole in the lower end ofthe center post. In the construction shown in Figs. l and 3 the stud is screwed into a removable hardened-steel plate i, which is seated in a hole in the bottom of the bearing-box and secured by bolts or otherwise, and bearing-balls t" are arranged between the stud and center post, the balls working and being confined in circular grooves or races in the plate i and lower end of the center post. This center bearing is not intended to carry any of the weight of the turn-table, but acts as a centering or steadying bearing therefor to hold the same from tilting and to prevent the possible disengagement of the bearing-Harige g from the balls G of the supporting-bearing at the upper end of the bearing-box. Both the supporting and centering bearings are provided on the bearing-box, and the center post and its braces are confined within the box. This box entirely supports the turn-table and is the only part requiring a foundation. No supporting wheels or tracks at the outer edge of the turn-table are necessary.

Fig. 5 shows a slightly different bearing con struction, in which G represents the balls of the supportingbearing- These balls, as in the construction before described, are located in a circular groove in the upper end of the bearing-box F; but the bearing-plate c has a depending bearing flange or rim c, which surrounds the bearing-balls and is provided. with an inner beveled bearing-face lc for the balls. In addtition to this supporting-bearing an antifriction retaining-bearing is provided, consisting of a second circular row of balls Z, confined in a groove or race in a ring l and bearing upwardly against a downwardly-facing beveled portion of a flange Z2 on the upper end of the bearing-box. This groove-ring is removably secured by bolts or otherwise to the depending flange c of the bearing-plate and is of sufficiently large diameter to be slipped over the lower end of the bearing-box, or this ring could be made in sections. The retaining-bearing acts, in conjunction with the center bearing M between the lower end of the center post and box, to prevent the disengagement of the turn-table from its supporting-bearing and to insure its rotation in -a horizontal plane. Antifriction-balls are not required in this construction for the center bearing M. In this construction, like the other, the turn-table is entirely supported by the bearing-box.

l claim as my inventionl. The combination of a fixed hollow bearing-box having an open upper end provided with a circular race, a turn-table arranged above the bearing-box and having acenter post depending into the bearing-box, antifriction supportingbearings for the turn-tah ble arranged between the same and the circular race at the upper end of the bearing-box, and a center bearing between the lower end of said center post and. the lower portion of the bearing-box, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a fixed hollow metal bearing-box having an open upper end provided at its rim with a circular race, a turntable arranged above the bearing-box and having a center post depending into said box, antifriction supporting-bearings for the turntable arranged in said circular race and bearing against a circular face on the turn-table, and a center bearing for the turn-table consisting of a bearing member removably secured to the bottom of the bearing-box and provided with means for engaging the lower end of said center post, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a xed hollow metal bearing-box having an open upper end provided with a circular race, a turn-table arranged above the bearing-box and having a center post depending into said box, braces for said center post also arranged within said. bearing-b ox, antifriction supporting-bearings for the turn-table arranged between the same and said circular race at the upper end of the bearing-box, and a center bearing between the lower end of said center post and the lower portion of the bearing-box, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a fixed hollow bearing-box having an open upper end, a turn-table having a horizontal bearing-plate arranged above the bearing-box, a center post depending below said bearing-plate into the bearing-box, braces connecting said bearingplate and the depending portion of the bearing-post and located within the bearing-box, antifriction-bearings arranged between the upper open end of the bearing-box and said bearing-plate, and a center bearing between the lower endof said center post and the lower portion of the bearing-box, substantial ly as set forth.

5. The combination of a fixed hollow bearing-box having an open upper end, a turn-table frame comprising a hub, and floor-sup porting members secured to said hub, said hub consisting of a horizontal bearing-plate provided with upwardlyprojecting parts to which the floor-supporting members are secured, and a center post which depends from said bearing-plate into the bearing-box, and braces connecting the center post and bearing-plate and located within the bearing-box, antifriction-bearings arranged between the open upper end of the bearing-box and said bearing-plate, and a center bearing between the lower end of said center ost and the lower portion of the bearingox, substantially as set forth.

IOO

IIO

6. The combination of a fixed hollow bearing-box having an open upper end, a turn-table frame comprising a hub, radial floor-supporting members secured to said hub and a rim connecting the outer ends of said floorsupporting members, said hub consisting of a horizontal bearing-plate and a center post depending from said bearing-plate into the boxbearing, parts extending upwardly from said bearing-plate to which the said radial Hoorsupporting members are secured, and braces connecting said center post and said bearingplate and 4located within the bearing-box, antifriction-bearings arranged between the upper end of the bearing-box and said bearing-plate, and a center bearing between the lower end of said center post and the lower portion of the bearing-box7 substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of a fixed hollow bear- CHARLES K. ERNST.

Witnesses:

C. B. HoRNBRcK, CHARLES W. PARKER. 

